Tailstock clamping mechanism



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. F. RANDOLPH TAILSTOCK CLAMPING MECHANISM Original Filed March 2l, 1923 April 3, 1928.

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INVENTOR a/ndagfh ATTORNEY Patented ra. 192. j I w STATES -l-A'I'ENTY 'OFFICE CLTLFFOECD F; DOPH F PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO NILES-BEMENT- QND GGMPANY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TAILSTOCK CLAMPING MECHANISM. Application led March 21, 1923, Serial No. 626,584. Renewed September 13, 1927.

'lhis invention relates to tailstocks for Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspeclathes and particularly to means for sup-l tive view of the tailstock bracing means. porting a tailstock against movement on a My invention contemplates improved lathe bed. In accordance with the invention, clamping mechanism. for securing the taile l provide a plurality of clamping elements stock to the bed of a lathe and for releasing 60 secured to the tailstock and adapted to enthe same therefrom. The invention furthergage the lathe bed and an improved unitary more contemplates means for bracing the means in connection therewith for clamping tail-stock against movement on the lathe bed and unclamping the said elements. One oband a single operating mechanism, includject of my invention is to provide an im` ing a hand operated lever, for operating 65 proved mechanism of this type. both the clamping mechanism and bracing -ln addition to the clamping means above means. The entire mechanism is so ardeined,Ipreferab1y pivotally mount abracranged that by. moving a single lever, the ing element on the tailstock in a position to operator may release both the bracing means engage rack teeth on the lathe bed. In one and clamping mechanism from engagement 70 position this element engages the rack teeth with the bed whereby'the tailstock becomes in a manner to brace the tailstock against freely adjustable therealong. Conversely,

longitudinal backward movement on the bed b y moving the lever in the opposite direcand in another position the element is distion, the bracing means and clamping mechconnected from the rack teeth and the tailanlsm may be reengaged with the bed to se- 75 stock is free to move on the bed. Another cure the tailstock thereto in its adjusted poobject of my invention is to provide means sition. rIhe speciic mechanism 'shown in for disengaging the element from the rack the drawings for performing these functions teeth simultaneously with the disengaging will now be described.

of the clamping means. Such means pref- Referring to the drawings by reference 80 erably comprise a cam on a clamp operating` characters, 1 indicates the lathe bed on the shaft extending longitudinally of the tailways 2 of which the tailstock 3 is slidably stock as illustrated in the accompanying mounted. The tailstock comprises a lower drawings. section 3 and an upper section 3* transverse- With the above and other objects in view, ly slidably mounted thereon. A pair of bolts 85 my invention consists in the features of con- 4 and 4 mounted in the upper section 3" struction and operation set forth in the folthreadedly engage lugs 5 and 5 of the lowlowing specification and illustrated in the er section 3, whereby the upper section may accompanying drawings. In such drawings be'adjusted transversely. A scale 6 is proannexed hereto and forming a. part of this vided on the lower section for cooperating 90 speciication, I have shown one embodiment with a mark 7 on the upper section to accuof my invention. but it will be understood rately indicate the amount of such adjustthat the invention can be otherwise ems ment. The upper section carries a spindle bodied and that the drawings are not to be 8 provided in one end with a work engagm construed as deiining or limiting the scope ing center 9. A screw 10 and hand wheel 11 95 of the invention, the claims appended to this are provided for adjusting the spindle lonspecitication being relied upon for that purgitudinally. A screw clamp 12 operated by pose. a lever 13 is provided for securing the spin- Referring to the figures of the drawings: dle in its adjusted position. A key 14 pre- Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved vents rotation of the spindle. 10 tailstock mechanism. The tailstock may be moved along the bed Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal by means of a pinion 15 engaging a rack section therethrough.- 15 secured to the bed. The pinion 15 is Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3 mounted on a shaft 16 journaled in a brack- 5@ of Fig. 2. et 17 bolted to the tailstock. A gear 18 on 105 Fig. l is a fragmentary cross sectional the other end of shaft 16 is engaged by a view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2. pinion 19 on a shaft 20. The outer end of Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary end shaft 20 is squared to receive a suitable elevation looking in the direction of arrow A wrench or operating handle. A longitudilill in Fig. 2. nally adjustable taper gib 21 is provided for 110 accurately seating the tailstock on the.

' ways 2.

Pivotcd to lower extensions of the lugs 5, 5 is a tailstock bracing member 22 having a relatively long arm 22 adapted to engage within any one of' a series of notches 23 formed in the lathe bed. t will be understood that this mechanism serves to brace the tailsiock against backward movement on the lathe bed when the center 9 is engaged with a piece of work. l

The tailstock clamping means comprises a pair of clamping elements 24 and 24 at one end of the tailstock and another pair 25 and 25 at the other end of the tailstock. Each clamping element is supported on a bolt 26 hung from the upper tailstock section 3b. Each bolt extends downwardly through a projection 27 of the tailstock section 3a and is provided with a washer 28 and check nuts 29 for supporting its clamping element, the upper surface of the washer being curved to permit pivotal movement of the elements thereon.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 3, cach clamping element comprises a short arm 30 adapted to engage beneath a way of the bed and a relatively long arm 31 projecting past the center of the tailstock. The free ends of the long arms 3l of each pair of elements overlap in a manner to receive a block 32 thereon. Means is provided for forcing these blocks downwardly to engage the clamping elements with the ways whereby to secure the tailstock to the bed. This means is illustrated as comprising a shaft 33 rotatably mounted in the section 3 and extending longitudinally thereof. rllhe portions 34 of this shaft adjacent the blocks 32 are cam or eccentric shaped whereby to force the blocks 32 downwardly when the shaft is rotated.

y A handle 35 is mounted on the end of the shaft for rotating the same.

A collar 36 is secured to the shaft between the eccentric portions 34:. The forward end of this collar is notched at 37. The bracing member 22 is provided with a short upwardly extending arm 38 adapted to engage against the forward end of the collar. When the arm is engaged within the notch 37, the end 22 of member 22 is engaged within a notch 23 as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. By rotating the collar, the arm 38 is forced out of the notch whereby the arm 22 is raised to the position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2.

With the collar 36 secured to the shaft 33 in the proper position, the operation of the mechanism is as follows: With the handle 35 in the position shown in dot and dash lines a (Fig. 3), the tailstock is unclamped from the bed and the bracing Ymember 22 is raised to the position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2. With the parts so positioned,

the tailstock may be freely adjusted along the ways 2. When the handle is moved downwardly to the position shown-in dot and dash lines b, the tailstock still remains unclamped from the bed but the bracing member 22 is in the downward position shown in full lines in Fig. 2. With the parts so positioned, the tailstock may be moved baclnvardly to firmly engage the free end 0f arm 22 of the bracing member' against the shoulder of the adjacent notch 23. When the tailstock is so positioned, the handle 35 is pushed downwardly to the position shown in fulllines in Fig. 3 whereby the tailstock is rmly clamped to the bed.

What I claim is:

1. A lathe tailstock comprising the colnbination of means for engaging thc ways of a lathe bed, a pair of relatively movable clamping elements adjacent each end of the tailstock for engaging beneath the ways, and means including a shaftl extending longitudinally of the tailstock for operating both pairs of clamping elements, the elements of each said pair being moved relatively in performing the clamping operation.

2. A lathe tailstock comprising the combi-` nation of means for engaging the ways of a lathe bed, a pair of relatively movable clamping elements adjacent each end of the tailstock for engaging beneath th'e ways, a cam engaging each pair of elements for moving the same into clamping engagement with the ways, and a unitary operating device for both cams, the elements of each said pair being moved relatively in performing the clamping operation.

3. A lathe tailstock comprising the combination, of means for engagingthe ways of a lathe bed, a pair of clamping elements pivoted to the tail/stock adjacent each end thereof for engagement beneath the ways, a shaft extending longitudinally of the tailstock, and means on the shaft for operating both pairs of clamping\elements about their pivots into and out of clamping engagement with the ways.

4. A lathe tailstock comprising the combination of means for engaging the ways of a lathe bed, a pair of clamping levers pivoted to the tailstock adjacent each end thereof, one end of each lever engaging beneath a way and the other ends of each pair of levers being adjacent each other, a block mounted on the adjacent ends of each pair of levers, a shaft extending along the tailstock, and means on the shafat for operatively engaging each block to operate the levers about their pivots into clamping engagement with the ways.

5. A lathe tailstock comprising the combinati-ion of means for engaging the ways of a .Inf 1 to the tailstock adjacent each end thereof, each lever being movably connected to the tailstock by a bolt hung therefrom and ex- Ue bed, a pair of clamping levers pivoted tending downwardly through the lever', a shaft extending longitudinally of the tailstock, and means on the shaft for ope-rating the levers about the bolts into and out of clamping engagement with the ways.

6. A lathe tailstock comprising the combination of means for engaging the ways ot' a lathe hed, clamping means for securing the tailstock to the bed, an element connected to the tailstock and adapted to engage rack teeth on the bed for bracing the tailstock, and unitary means operative to both disengage the clamping means 'and the bracing means from the bed.

7. A lathe tailstock comprising the combination of means for engaging the Ways of a lathe bed, clamping means for seeurlng the tailstock to the bed, a shaft for operating the clamping means, an element pivoted to the tailstock and ada ted to engage rack teeth on the bed for' racing the tailstock, and means operated by the shaft for pivotlally moving the element out of engagement. with the rack teeth when disengaging the clamping means.

8. A lathe tailstock comprising the Combination ot' means for engaging the Ways of a lathe bed, clamping means for securing the tailstock to the bed, a shaft for operating the clamping means, an element pivoted to the tailstoek and adapted to engage rack teeth on the `bed for bracing the tailstock, and a cam on the shaft for pivotally moving the element out of engagement with the rack teeth when disengaging the clamping means.

In testimony whereof,y I hereto afx my signature.

CLIFFORD F. RANDOLPH. 

